While improvements to pitches in the Sydney suburbs have been abandoned, plans for a new Stadium by the Panthers are moving forward.
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New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet has been praised and criticised for his resolve to cut $250 million in suburban stadium improvements and earmark them for flood relief in the state. more than $300 million for Penrith Stadium, the maximum value of the promised projects while innovations for other suburban land.
The apparent answer might be: it’s politics.
After a redistribution of seats in 2021, Penrith is the third-highest marginal seat in the state, held by the Liberals at 0. 6%.
The local MP is Stuart Ayres, who until a few days ago was the second leader of the Liberals and Minister of Sport.
Ayres was forced to resign Tuesday due to questions about his involvement in appointing former Nationals leader John Barilaro to a $500,000-a-year industry commissioner post.
Ayres is a penrith supporter and close to the Penrith Panthers Board of Directors.
Panthers, the NRL home team and operator of one of NSW’s biggest clubs, is a major player in Penrith’s economy. influence its members.
While the club strongly supports the stadium’s modernisation and says it is necessary, the proposal is more debatable within the community.
For starters, the existing BlueBet Stadium is very popular with enthusiasts because of its privacy and the component known as “Family Hill,” which offers a lawn for families to picnic and watch the games.
The stadium has already had two improvements: in 1987, when new stands were built, and in 2006, when its facilities were expanded.
It has a capacity of 8,000 seats and can accommodate a total crowd of another 22,500 people. For the most part, that’s enough. When the Panthers faced the Sharks on the court two weeks ago, another 17,400 people attended.
The larger stadium planned to accommodate another 30,000 people would likely result in the loss of less expensive green areas and more corporate facilities.
“From the viewer’s point of view, it’s a wonderful pitch to watch rugby league, rugby union or football, all of which are played there, because you’re never too far away. There are the right amenities for business and media. The lighting meets transmission standards,” says the Austadium website.
But since July, the plan has returned.
To the wonder of corporate neighbor AH
“It’s a surprise to us,” chief executive Tash Greentree recently told 2GB.
He said the first time he found out was on July 4, when the government issued a mandatory acquisition notice. No other sites were offered, despite the many network uses of their facilities.
“We are Penrith’s network,” Greentree said, noting that the site is used for candlelit carols, weekly markets and Penrith’s annual show, as well as several local businesses and charities.
Already facing Covid headwinds, the company had surveyed penrith’s board to remodel the show grounds and access street in a mixed-use progression with 2,000 residential units, looking ahead to the budget to move to a new site further away from Penrith CBD.
But that plan is now in tatters. The prized will be acquired according to your existing zoning, which probably won’t generate the budget needed for a move. Greentree said the government had not proposed a new matrix.
Meanwhile, it’s unclear what will happen to the old stadium nearby, which sits on land owned by the New South Wales government.
The reconstruction plan on the paceway has the strong support of penrith Panthers.
“The track site would facilitate a state-of-the-art stadium with a better game day experience for fans, with modern amenities that exist in an enclosure that is activated throughout the week, not just on holidays,” the Panthers said. The leader of the group said. Executive Brian Fletcher said in July.
It’s possible the Panthers will also remain on blueBet’s old site for the 2023 season, having to move in while an upgrade takes place.
Opposition critic Julia Finn said that while Labour did not oppose an improvement at Penrith, the government published the business case.
“We are involved in an explosion in prices. The Parramatta stadium charged $300 million several years ago and the prices of the structures have increased particularly because of Covid,” Finn said.
“Also, we need to know why they want to win the Paceway site. It’s 11ha, much bigger than necessary. What about the rest?
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